Housecall for Health: Brain Injuries Speed Dementia

Professional contact sports have been in the headlines after a rash of player suicides, and the medical research continues. A new study suggests the dangers of playing a hard-hitting sport may not subside after a player retires.

New research shows further evidence that head trauma may lead to dementia. A team at Boston University analyzed the brains of 85 former professional athletes with repetitive mild brain injuries, including 50 NFL players.

Sixty-eight percent showed evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which causes aggressive behavior and depression, and can advance to dementia and Parkinson’s Disease. The study is published in the journal “Brain.”